* ICC Men’s T20I World Cup – Match 1
By Marlon Dale Ferreira
The ICC T20 Men’s Cricket World Cup exploded into action as USA’s Aaron Jones set the Dallas Stadium alight, blazing a record 10 sixes in an unbeaten 94 to lead his team to a comprehensive 7-wicket victory over Canada, with 14 balls to spare.
Jones’ electrifying innings was a spectacle of record-breaking feats. Partnering with Andries Gous (65), he stitched together a USA record partnership for any wicket in T20Is, amassing 131 runs off just 58 deliveries for the 3rd wicket. Jones then etched his name in the history books by doubling the previous USA record for the most number of sixes (5) in a single T20I innings.
Earlier in their run chase. the World Cup co-host’s USA, found themselves in a precarious position when chasing Canada’s formidable set target of 195 runs. The drama began as early as the second ball when Steven Taylor was trapped plumb in front of his stumps by paceman Kaleem Sana for a duck. Skipper Monank Patel then contributed a run-a-ball 16 before being caught behind, leaving USA at 43 for 2 off 6.3 overs.
Enter Aaron Jones. After a cautious start, playing out four dot balls, he then unleashed a whirlwind of powerful hits. Over the next 36 deliveries, Jones blasted virtually ten home runs in baseball parlance and four boundaries, sending the home crowd into a frenzy.
With victory within reach, the blazing partnership between Jones and Gous ended when the latter, attempting another mighty six, was out for 65. Gous had also gone on a rampage, hitting 3 sixes and 7 fours off 46 deliveries.
Earlier the ICC T20I Men’s Cricket World Cup began with a bang in Dallas, Texas, as Canada’s opening batter Aaron Johnson smacked the first delivery of the tournament for a glorious cover drive all the way to the boundary to commence what is billed to be an exciting tournament. This was after the USA skipper Monank Patel, having won the toss, decided to bowl first, confident that knowing the target would provide his team with clarity.
The rest of the opening over was calm, with the hosts reaching 6 runs. By the end of the 2nd over, the total was 11 before Canada struck back with four consecutive boundaries in the 3rd over, three off Johnson’s bat and one that deflected off his helmet and sped away to the boundary.
Canada, who incidentally had played a three-day cricket match against the USA dating back as far as 1844, then breathed a sigh of relief when Johnson was caught for 23, ending the opening stand with the score on 43 runs. Canada then reached 50 for 1 at the end of the power play, thanks to N.S. Dhaliwal’s six off the last ball in the 6th over.
Dhaliwal then continued to dominate, carving a four over point and another through the covers before his partner Pargat Singh was run out attempting an ambitious second run. At this stage, Canada was 66 for 2 off exactly 8 overs.
USA, then aiming to curb the run flow, brought in off-spinner Taylor, who was greeted with two sixes off his first three balls, as Canada reached the halfway mark at 85 for 2 and poised for a big score especially with Dhaliwal at the crease on a solid 40 not out.
Batting sensibly after the break, Canada nudged the ball around, collecting five more runs in the 11th over. The 12th over saw Dhaliwal smash an over-pitched ball for six and then take a single to bring up his maiden T20 World Cup 50, also taking Canada to the 100-run mark in 11.4 overs.
Canada eventually posted 194 for 5, setting up an intriguing run chase for the USA.
Despite the early setbacks, Aaron Jones’ spectacular knock ensured a triumphant start for the hosts in the ICC Men’s T20 Cricket World Cup.
Chief Scores:
Canada 194 for 5 off 20 overs (Navneet Dhaliwal 61, Nicholas Kirton 51, Shreyas Movva 32 not out, Harmeet Singh 1 for 27, Corey Anderson 1 for 29)
USA 197 for 3 wickets of 17.4 overs ( Aaron Jones 96 not, Andries Gous 65, Dilon Heyliger 1 for 19, Kaleem Sana 1 for 34)
Player of the Match – Aaron Jones
